Chicago plans to waive Bynum by 5 p.m. Tuesday and clear his $12.3 million salary off their books. That will enable the Bulls to get below the luxury-tax threshold, which, combined with the savings from not having to pay Deng the balance of his $14.3 million salary, will save the team more than $20 million.

Bynum is expected to clear waivers and become a free agent by the end of the week. Though he was suspended by the Cavs for one game for conduct detrimental to the team and excused from team activities, he is expected to be chased on the open market. The Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks are among the teams expected to consider offering him a landing spot.

Each of the listed teams have clear frontcourt needs and are equally intriguing landing spots.

Greg Oden, Miami's latest experiment, has yet to appear in a regular-season contest, leaving head coach Erik Spoelstra no choice but to lean heavily on Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen. When engaged, Bynum can have a two-way impact as a shot-blocker and interior scorer, making him someone who could bolster the Heat's already formidable attack.

The Heat have also had success with tumultuous talents. Their calming yet accomplished locker room has allowed the embattled Michael Beasley to stay out of (negative) headlines and on the basketball court.

Bynum would represent a similar project. Before he was dealt, a league source told Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski that Bynum's NBA future was in legitimate jeopardy:

About Bynum suspension, league source tells Yahoo: "He doesn't want to play basketball anymore. He never liked it that much in first place."

Realistic destination or not, Los Angeles remains one of the better fits.

Surrounded by veterans who want to win, and coached by the no-nonsense Doc Rivers, Bynum would enter a stable situation, where his antics would not be tolerated. For someone who's constantly ruffling feathers, he could use that level of discipline.

Which is exactly why he should stay away from the Knicks.

New York isn't a nurturing environment. Ask Iman Shumpert, the promising, albeit emotionally fickle, shooting guard turned frequent trade fodder. He'll tell Bynum how receptive New York is to youngsters searching for an identity. And J.R. Smith will tell him how well the Knicks cope with controversy.

Most likely, it won't get that far. Grantland's Bill Simmons previously indicated Bynum had a list of preferred destinations, and the Knicks weren't on it:

3 - From what I hear, Bynum wants to end up with Heat or Clips. But he'd have to be released + Cavs want to trade him (see @WindhorstESPN).

Which team will Bynum wind up with?

ClippersHeatKnicksOther (specify below)Submit Votevote to see results

Which team will Bynum wind up with?

Clippers

17.7%

Heat

52.9%

Knicks

15.2%

Other (specify below)

14.2%

Total votes: 28,544

The Clippers are allowing 43.5 points in the paint this season, per TeamRankings.com, and has a greater need for Bynum, but is a Hollywood return in his cards? Will Miami nab him? Does New York even have a chance?

"Cleveland—the fans and the city—have been nothing less than perfect," Bynum's agent, David Lee, told Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer.

In due time, we'll find out which city is perfectly suited to host the imperfect Bynum this time around.